A Letter to AFDW Candidates on "Special Ballot" Voting

Open letters to the candidates of the ADFW riding on the issue of "special ballot" voting. 

I will add their responses as they arrive.
And I've already spotted a typo, sigh.

To: Dave Braden, Liberal Candidate for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale (info@davebraden.ca)

Dear Dave Braden,

My name is Austin Yan, a student at McMaster University, and a first time voter in the upcoming federal election. I'm sure you're well aware of the "special ballot" voting issue at the University of Guelph (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/elections-canada-puts-end-to-special-ballot-voting/article1987880), as promoted on your facebook page and campaign website. While those ballots have been declared valid, Elections Canada has decided to stop all "special ballot" stations outside of the election offices, including on-campus sites. I agree with the policy in general, since it is understandably challenging to exercise control over a non-official voting station (such as having some partisan material nearby), but this decision makes it very difficult for students to get out an vote.

Many McMaster students live in the AFDW riding for at least 8 months of a given year (more, if they're there for summer school), making this area their primary residence, in principle. But the majority of students who spend their summers outside the riding - abroad, or in their hometown - are no longer in the area on May 2nd, election day, which is well after the final exams of the regular school year. The early write days (22nd, 23nd, 25th) are inconvenient, as many students have either (i) completed their exams before then and have left the area, (ii) are visiting home for the Easter Weekend, or (iii) busy studying for, and writing exams, on the 25th. As a result, "special ballot" voting becomes a very reasonable alternative to conventional voting methods, given the timing of the election.

But in order to vote by "special ballot" in person, students must visit the election office at 812 Old Highway #8, almost a thirty minute drive from campus. Moreover, it is inaccessible by public transit, which makes the trip difficult for the majority of students that rely on the HSR, myself included. The remaining option is to register by mail - which is probably what I will resort to - as many students don't have fax machines, but this process still involves paying for postage, waiting for the voting kit, and resending the ballot. Overall, many students feel excluded from the upcoming election, and are finding the process of voting in their primary riding to be rather difficult and inaccessible.

As one of the candidates for the ADFW riding, I'm asking you how you will help make voting more accessible for students in this election, and for any upcoming elections. I am also wondering if you, or your party, will weigh in on Election Canada's decision to prevent on-campus voting stations from taking place, which easily reduces and simplifies the voting process for students.

I look forward to hearing from you via email and seeing you in the debate on Monday. I hope to hear this subject brought up then.

Thanks,

Austin Yan

Arts & Science II, McMaster University

To: David Sweet, Conservative Candidate for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale (info@davidsweet.ca)

Dear David Sweet,

My name is Austin Yan, a student at McMaster University, and a first time voter in the upcoming federal election. I have emailed you in the past on two occasions, and was pleased to receive a speedy response on both times, especially with a detailed response on the issue of engaging McMaster students.  

I'm sure you're aware of the "special ballot" voting issue at the University of Guelph (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/elections-canada-puts-end-to-special-ballot-voting/article1987880), where votes at an on-site special ballot station set up by the returning officer were questioned on legitimacy. 

... continued word for word with the previous email to Dave Braden.  

To: Nancy MacBain, NDP Candidate for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale (rebecca@strung.me)

To: Peter Ormond, Green Party Candidate for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale (peter.ormond@greenparty.ca)

Dear Nancy MacBain/Peter Ormond,

My name is Austin Yan, a student at McMaster University, and a first time voter in the upcoming federal election. I'm sure you're aware of the "special ballot" voting issue at the University of Guelph (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/elections-canada-puts-end-to-special-ballot-voting/article1987880), where votes at an on-site special ballot station set up by the returning officer were questioned on legitimacy. 

... continued word for word with the previous email to Dave Braden.